Srinagar, Feb 16: The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order Amendment Bill, 2024 passed by Parliament has added four communities in the list of STs of UT of J&K while list of STs of Ladakh remains unchanged as per the 1989 order.
The move comes after the Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The historic Bill aims at empowering (i) Pahari Ethnic Group (ii) Padari Tribes (iii) Koli and (iv) Gadda Brahmin by providing Scheduled Tribe status. This has been a long pending demand of these communities.
Recently Union Minister for Tribal Affairs; Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Arjun Munda at a function said that on the three bills passed by the Parliament to fulfil long pending demand of tribal communities of Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
“Government is committed to the development of tribal communities, while preserving their socio-cultural heritage,” he said.
Commissioner secretary Ladakh, Padma Angmo said that the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 passed by Parliament adds four communities in the list of STs of UT of J&K. The list of STs of Ladakh remains unchanged as per the 1989 order, he said.
Another official at the General Administration Department J&K said that inclusion of these communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir will have absolutely no impact on the current level of reservations available to the existing Scheduled Tribe communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals.
“They will continue to get reservations like before. Reservation to the newly listed Scheduled Tribes will be provided in such a manner that it does not impact the communities which are already listed as Scheduled Tribes,” he said.
The official said that after the Bill is passed by the Parliament, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will issue necessary notifications on reservation, which will ensure that the people included in the existing list of Scheduled Tribes continue to get the same level of reservation.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the Government is committed to inclusive development of every section and community of society with the mantra of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vishwas. Passage of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is another significant step in this direction.
“The Government of India is committed to bring in progressive and affirmative changes in Jammu and Kashmir through such Act. However, on the other side in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the list remained unaltered, as per the 1989,” he added.
